Guam truly lends itself to being a natural gateway
and crossroad to countries of the Pacific Basin and
the United States. Its location facilitates access to
and from major Asian markets by being only 3 to 4.5
hours flying time to Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Taiwan,
Hong Kong, China and the Philippines. Guam is within
two time zones of these same cities. Furthermore, being
west of the International Dateline allows businesses
on Guam a head start on their counterparts and competitors
in both Asia and the U.S. mainland.
History
Guam, an unincorporated Territory of the United States,
was originally settled by the Chamorros several thousand
years before the Spanish conquered Guam in the late
17th century. The United States claimed Guam after the
Spanish-American War in 1898 and except for the Japanese
occupation during World War II, Guam has been governed
by American laws since the Treaty of Paris (1898). The
Organic Act governs the relations between Guam and the
United States and provides for full American citizenship
for all the people of Guam. In short, it is a U.S. community
in the Western Pacific. We are protected by the Constitution
of the United States; the U.S. dollar is our basic currency;
and the Internal Revenue Code is our income tax law.
Government
The political relationship established by the Organic
Act of 1950 is presently being evaluated by the people
of Guam. In 1982 the people voted to pursue a Commonwealth
status. A Commonwealth Act has been drafted which reflects
the people's desire to retain strong political ties
with the United States while striving for greater self-government
and latitude in economic areas. The people of Guam vote
for their governor, a unicameral 15-seat legislature,
municipal mayors, and a non-voting delegate in the U.S.
House of Representatives. There is a local court, the
Superior Court of Guam, and a federal district court
that has jurisdiction over federal matters.
Labor
Employment figures for services and trade reflect Guam's
economic base with private sector employment at the
lead. Guam employment figures record 62,530 as of March
1999, with approximately 70% of this total employed
in the private sector and the remaining 30% in local
government and federal jobs. There is consensus among
Guam's leaders that the development of local labor through
imaginative use of programs in cooperation with business
will lead ultimately to a highly skilled work force,
well able to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.
Living on Guam
Housing, Health Care, Education, Recreation,
Expenses...
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